Using Herbicide and No-Till Planting to Establish Garrison Creeping Foxtail in Wet Meadows

• Published in: Forage and grazinglands Vol. 2004
• Main Authors: Han, G, Waldron, B.L, Peel, M.D, Jensen, K.B, Harrison, R.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Plant Management Network 2004
• Subjects: Alopecurus arundinaceus; band placement; chemical fallow; crop management; crop yield; drilling; forage grasses; forage quality; herbicides; no-tillage; pastures; pesticide application; plant establishment; wet meadows; Utah
• ISSN: 1547-4631

Garrison creeping foxtail can increase the forage yield of wet meadows. However, tillage can be problematic on heavy-textured soils and thick sod mats often associated with wet meadows. This study examined the potential of establishing Garrison with the use of herbicides and no-till planting. Garrison was no-till drilled into a wet meadow using herbicide control of existing vegetation in the entire plot, herbicide application in bands with seed planted in the resulting strips, and no herbicide control of vegetation. Garrison establishment, forage yield and quality, and percent of forage yield comprised of Garrison were evaluated. Overall forage yield and Garrison establishment were highest when the entire plot was treated with herbicide; however, frequency of Garrison was negatively correlated (r = -0.86) with crude protein. Direct seeding resulted in very little Garrison establishment and was considered a failure. This study indicates that inexpensive herbicides can improve establishment of Garrison creeping foxtail and that Garrison can increase the productivity of wet meadows.